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Alert

June 22, 2018: Blue Heroin Alert Public Health Services has received multiple reports of overdoses attributed to “Blue Heroin”, a highly toxic fentanyl laced heroin, circulating the community. This serves as an important reminder to the community that street drugs continue to be cut (mixed) with substances such as fentanyl.

There is no easy way to know what is in your drugs. You can't see it, smell it or taste it. Substances such as fentanyl and carfentanil can be cut (mixed) with other drugs. Even a very small amount can cause an overdose.

Previous alerts

March 14 2018: Purple Heroin Alert: Public Health Services has received multiple reports of overdoses attributed to “Purple Heroin”, a highly toxic fentanyl laced heroin, circulating in the community. This serves as an important reminder to the community that street drugs continue to be cut (mixed) with substances such as fentanyl.

September 2017: Public Health Services has received reports of fentanyl laced methamphetamine circulating in the community. This serves as an important reminder to the community that street drugs can be cut (mixed) with substances such as fentanyl.

March 2017: Public Health Services has been notified of reports of a drug called “takeover” or "dirty fentanyl" which is crack laced with fentanyl. Reports are that this drug is causing an immediate and dangerous loss of consciousness.

December 2016: Be aware that street drugs in Hamilton may contain a deadly opioid drug carfentanil. It is 100 times more toxic than fentanyl and is hidden in other drugs. It will cause more overdoses and deaths.

How to prevent opioid overdose death and save lives

An opioid overdose is a medical emergency. Prevent opioid overdose death and save lives using the 4 C’s of safety:

Careful Use - Don’t use alone, go slow by testing the effect with small amounts first.

Carry naloxone - Get a FREE naloxone kit, and training at the following locations:

City of Hamilton Public Health Services Harm Reduction program: 905-546-4276.

Participating local pharmacies by calling the Drug and Alcohol Helpline: 1-800-565-8603.

Call 9-1-1 for every overdose. You, your friend or family member needs hospital care to survive.

CPR. Push Hard, Push Fast.

The Hamilton Overdose Prevention Education program, or HOPE program, provides free opioid overdose prevention kits that contain Naloxone. Naloxone (Narcan) is a medicine that can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose. Opioids include street drugs such as heroin, and prescription medications such as oxycodone, morphine, fentanyl, methadone and codeine. Naloxone is safe and is not addictive.

The HOPE program provides:

Free overdose prevention kits containing Naloxone to current or past opioid users with no known allergies to Naloxone and to, family members and friends of someone at risk of overdose

Training on the signs of overdose, myths, safe use and how to give the Naloxone

Overdose prevention information - call 905-546-4276

HOPE program hours and locations

You can get a free Naloxone overdose prevention kit and training at one of these locations: